FIGURED
BASS
A SHORT
INTRODUCTION
L E A N M U S I C I A N
INTRODUCTION TO
FIGURED BASS
Figured bass can often seem like a really complex, archaic thing and hard to
get your head round. However it's actually quite simple and is only really to
do with inverting chords and describing the resulting intervals between the
notes. You can also see it as a shorthand way of writing chord inversions,
much like today when we might write C/E (a first inversion C major chord),
or Ib (first inversion of chord 1).
Figured bass definition
Figured bass uses numbers beneath bass notes to illustrate the chords that
go with them as a kind of shorthand for keyboardists and other instruments.
It was primarily used in the Baroque period. Historically composers did this
not just to save time, but because it was a normal thing for players to
improvise more and realise their own version of the chords underneath.
So in a sense you can see it as a bass line where the continuo player (the
person who realised the figured bass) filled in the harmony. This is called
‘realizing figured bass’.
Example of figured bass
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Understanding Figured Bass Intervals
Core to understanding figured bass is understanding the intervals that the
numbers represent. To remind ourselves of intervals, let's look at a simple
musical alphabet with no sharps or flats. I'll put it vertically in a grid.
Now hopefully you already know that if we go from C to D
that's called a second. If we go from C to C (the same C) it's
called a unison. Let's briefly review all the other simple
intervals.
C to E is a third
C to F is a fourth
C to G is a fifth
C to A is a sixth
C to B is a seventh
C to the next highest C is an octave
We could also do this starting at a different point on the grid. For example
starting at G and going up to F would still be a seventh. We could also do
this inside of another key. However, let’s stick with going from the note C
inside C major for now.
We don’t at this stage need to think about what type of third
or fourth or fifth it is - as figured bass is diatonic (unless
otherwise shown by sharps and flats as you’ll see later). In
other words, C-up-to-E is simply called a third even though
it’s a major third. Counting up from D to F is still a third even
though it’s a minor third.
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Let's look at a simple closed position triad (notes as close together as
possible) in root position. In C major, a closed position triad looks like this:
Now if we count the space between the bass note (a C) and the next note in
the chord we have the interval of a 3rd
between the bottom note and the next.
So above a bass note of C, we could write ‘3’
to imply a third.
So we would (initially) realize this figured bass like this:
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If we then count up from C (the bass note) to G we have a fifth. So we could
write a five above this 3 here.
So what we are left with is the original note (C) and a 3 above and a 5 above
that 3.
We could imagine that the C itself is 1 and we are playing 135 - where ‘1’ is
C.
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So that’s the first, most basic indication of figured bass. In fact, that example
is really just to introduce you to the logic of figured bass. When a composer
wants to imply a root position chord, they don’t even write the numbers ⅗
over the top. That’s because root position chords are the most common and
someone who is realizing figured bass will assume that a bass note without
a number above it is a root position chord.
So in figured bass,
always means
Or some other root position voicing like:
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REVIEWING INVERSIONS
Let's review a few inversions so we are prepared going forward. I will be
describing these all in closed position.
Inversions of triad chords
• The chord not inverted is called ‘root position’.
• The first inversion of a normal triad is (surprisingly) called first
inversion.
• Second is called second inversion.
• And there is no third, because if we invert the chord one more time,
we are back to ‘root position’.
Inversions of seventh chords
However, when you have 7th chords, you add a fourth note to the chord. So
there is one more possible inversion. Let’s look at that.
• The chord not inverted is called ‘root position’.
• The first inversion of a 7th chord (4 notes) is also called first inversion
• Second is called second inversion.
• And third is called third inversion.
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First inversion triad in figured bass.
If we stick with the standard C major triad we would then have the following
notes in the following order: E (in the bass) G and then C.
What’s happened there is the C has gone up to the top of the chord and
the E is on the bottom, with G next and then C.
Although the bass note now is technically the ‘third’ of C major - figured
bass doesn’t really think of it like that. So forget that way of thinking of E for
now. Because E is the bass note then figured bass thinks of it as 1.
Because C is now on the top, the distance between the bass note (E) and
the top note (C) is now a 6th. Let’s see that.
So now from the bass note which is E (not C) we
have the following intervals
E-G = a 3rd
E-C = a 6th
So the two numbers above the bass note of E
are 3 and then a 6 on top of that 3.
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However, in practice you will only ever see the 6. So when you see a 6
above a note - it implies a first inversion triad.
So this:
will imply this:
or some other first inversion voicing.
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Second inversion triad in figured bass.
Now we have the following notes in the following order: G (in the bass) C
and then E. What’s happened there is the E has gone up to the top of the
chord and the G is on the bottom, with C next and then E.
Because E is now on the top, the distance between the second note (G) and
the final note (C) is now a fourth.
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So now from the bass note which is G (not C) we have the following
intervals
G-C = a 4th
G-E = a 6th
So the two numbers above the bass note of G are 4 and then a 6 on top of
that 4.
This means that when you see this,
It is realised like this,
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There are many other figured bass numerations and symbols, most
obviously the ones that result from using 7th chords. However this is where
i’ll wrap it up for now.
Hopefully the above has given you a good overview of how figured bass
reflects chord inversion and how basic figured bass symbols work. It also
will allow you to know how to realise figured bass in any key.
FAQ’S ABOUT FIGURED
BASS
What does figured bass ‘4’ mean?
The ‘4’ that you sometimes see in figured bass implies a suspension of a
fourth. It’s often shown as 4 with a dash and then a 3 “4-3”. This implies the
suspension above the bass note of a fourth and then resolving to a normal
root position triad.
Who invented figured bass?
No one really ‘invented’ figured bass. Like most things in music notation, it
evolved with individuals inventing new conventions and shorthand.
Improvising accompaniments on the organ for choral works was a normal
thing during the latter part of the 16th century. In the 17th century, chordal
accompaniment became more and more important as polyphony became
more prominent.
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Why is figured bass important?
It helps you think intervallically as a musician. In other words, visualising
how notes lie vertically in relation to one another. It’s less common to
encounter it with anything written after 1700, but being able to create
chords yourself as a performer is a very powerful musical skill - hence why
we practice it.
How can I practice figured bass?
Reading the scores of composers like Corelli and Purcell will provide you
with a huge range of examples written in Figured bass. Click the links above
for a search through many of their scores.
What is ‘thoroughbass’ and ‘basso continuo’
Figured bass, thoroughbass and basso continuo are all very closely related
and basically involve the same thing. A deeper in-depth look at the
difference between them can be found here and also here.
What are figured bass accidentals?
When you see accidentals like sharps and flats in figured bass, this is
referring to notes outside of the key. As mentioned earlier, figured bass
with just the numbers is diatonic. In order to create a D major chord in C
major therefore - you would need to use a sharp symbol over a bass note of
D. This would imply an F# on the third note.
Difference between Jazz Chord Notation & Figured Bass.
So the difference between Jazz Chord Notation & Figured Bass is that Jazz
chord symbols tell you the whole chord type by name and expect you to
know it. However, technically speaking figured bass gives you instructions
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of what to do with your bass note to create a that particular chord type/
inversion. In other words, it’s instructions of how to create the chord above
the bass note.
You could look at it like, when you see a Jazz chord, you know what you’re
about to play & when you look at figured bass it’s a surprise what you are
going to play until you work it out from the bass note.
In practice however, once you’re reasonably good at reading figured bass
you recognise the numbers in very much the same way a Jazz musician
does when they look at chord charts.
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